Armando Rubio’s journey after coming out to his family was documented on 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way. He is a single father from Mexico who found love with Kenny Niedermeier, an older man from St. Petersburg, Florida. The couple’s story was one of the franchise’s first same-sex couples to be featured.
Kenny moved to Mexico in season 2, and they later started living together. They were married in 2021 after filming for three seasons, with their last appearance in season 5.
TLC has not yet confirmed if there will be a season 11 of the show, and even if it happens, it seems unlikely that Armando and Kenny will return. However, fans may be curious to know what the couple is up to now, in 2024.
A New Chapter: Their Children’s Book
One of the exciting things Armando and Kenny have been doing recently is writing a children’s book called You, Me, & Our Families. The book focuses on celebrating all kinds of families and the love that connects them. According to their website, the book is now available for pre-order and will also be available in Spanish.
In a video shared on social media, Kenny said, “It has a lot of heart, a lot of love in it,” while Armando added, “That’s what this book is about, love, family and just being there for one another.” The book is a perfect reflection of their own story on the show, which was about family planning as an LGBTQ+ couple.
The couple’s journey on 90 Day Fiancé was also filled with challenges surrounding family planning. They both wanted to have a child, but their situation was complicated by their different perspectives on having a child at their age. Despite these challenges, the book showcases the love and togetherness that both men share.
Expanding Their Business: Candles, Household Items, and More
Armando and Kenny have also expanded their business. They have a shop that sells candles, with one specific set inspired by them. The business also includes household items, t-shirts, and even bows inspired by their daughter, Hannah.
Fans of the couple may recall that Hannah first appeared on 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way when she was around 7 years old. Now, in November 2024, she will be turning 12.
The couple is dedicated to showcasing their life on their YouTube channel, which was recently updated to Reality with Kenny and Armando. The channel gives fans a closer look at their life in Mexico City, especially the Polanco area, which is filled with shops and has a rich history. The couple also provides a tour of the area and explains its architectural beauty and significance.
In one video, Armando shared, “One thing’s for sure, we love Polanco and with the beauty of our neighborhood comes tranquility.” He added that Polanco is one of the safest areas in Mexico City for both residents and tourists. Although the couple used to live in a smaller village called La Misión, they moved to Mexico City for its medical facilities, particularly fertility clinics, which Armando hoped would help them have a child.
Family Planning and the Possibility of a Child
The topic of having another child has always been a complex issue for the couple. Armando, who is 35, already has one child, and he wanted to expand his family with Kenny. However, Kenny, who is now 61, was hesitant about the idea of having another child.
He had already raised four children and was concerned about his age and the challenges that came with it. Despite these concerns, Kenny has expressed his love for children and the fact that he doesn’t want to retire or step away from family life.
In an interview with PEOPLE, Kenny said, “A lot of people are thinking he’s pressuring me to do it and I just keep saying, ‘I’m too old, I’m too old.’ It isn’t like I want to retire, and I want to sit on a rocking chair. It’s not that. My thoughts on it have always been along like, I want to always be here. It’s not like because I want to retire or I don’t want children. That isn’t true. I love kids.”
The couple was considering surrogacy, and in a 2023 update to ET, they shared that they were waiting for approval to move forward. While Kenny was still grappling with his age and the idea of raising a baby, he remained confident that they had enough love to offer to a new child.
The Couple’s Life and Their Dogs
Armando and Kenny’s life is not just about their family plans. They also have two dogs that often appear in their videos. The couple shares moments from their daily life, including their family outings and experiences.
Still from Armando Rubio and Kenny Niedermeier (Credit: TLC)
Their daughter, Hannah, was featured in their latest video, which showcased La Condesa, another neighborhood in Mexico City. During their visit, Hannah talked about how much she loved the parks in the area. The family also enjoyed food and took a walk through one of the parks.
In the video, Armando joked that Kenny was getting better at salsa dancing. This playful and light-hearted moment reflected the couple’s close bond and shared sense of humor. They are also planning to share more videos in the future about their travels and other neighborhoods in Mexico. Kenny expressed that they would focus on showing parts of Mexico that are full of locals rather than tourist hotspots.
Staying Connected with Fans
Even though Armando and Kenny’s story is now far from the dramatic moments seen on 90 Day Fiancé, they are still staying connected with their fans. The couple appeared on Pillow Talk in January, where they played a fun game of “Would You Rather?”
In this appearance, Armando asked Kenny a funny question, “Would you rather have your mom live in the closet or have the bathroom outside?” Kenny quickly responded, “Well, I don’t want to live with your mom, so we’ll have a bathroom outside.”
Their sense of humor was well received by fans, and the episode also featured other 90 Day Fiancé couples watching and reacting to the episode where Ashley Michelle and Manuel Velez enjoyed their time together at Niagara Falls.
Future Possibilities
It is unlikely that Armando and Kenny will return to 90 Day Fiancé anytime soon, especially since so much of their life is settled. They have found happiness in their family, their business, and their day-to-day life in Mexico.
However, there’s always the chance that they might come back in the future if they proceed with their surrogacy plans. Fans of the couple will be eager to follow their journey as they continue to build their family and their life together.
Heat wave episodes in television shows often symbolize moments of intense tension and challenge, where characters are pushed to their breaking points. In many cases, the extreme weather acts as a physical manifestation of emotional turmoil or unresolved conflicts that have been brewing for some time.
These episodes are ideal for pushing characters into difficult situations, making them react impulsively and often revealing truths about themselves. In Fire Country, a show known for its high-stakes firefighting action, a heatwave episode does exactly this—forcing characters to confront their feelings, make difficult decisions, and, in some cases, face life-threatening dangers.
In the latest episode, the small town of Edgewater is hit with an unbearable heat wave, causing serious problems for the community. But instead of a fire breaking out, the issue revolves around the local electrical grid, which causes power outages and puts people at risk.
As tensions rise, the episode’s focus shifts from the usual firefighting to the interpersonal dynamics between the characters, all while dealing with a crisis that requires quick thinking and teamwork.
No Fires, But Plenty of Crisis in Fire Country
One of the most unexpected aspects of this episode is that there are no fires. Instead, the characters are dealing with a power outage that causes a local office building’s elevator to get stuck between floors with multiple people trapped inside.
This situation is just as dangerous as any fire, if not more so, as the trapped people face the risk of injury or death from the malfunctioning elevator. The teams from Ladder 42 and Three Rock are called in to handle the crisis, and the episode brings the usual ensemble of characters together under intense pressure.
While no one expects this sort of crisis to emerge in the middle of a heatwave, the situation requires immediate action. Vince (Billy Burke), who is offered early retirement from CalFire HQ, is put into a leadership position for this call.
Manny (Kevin Alejandro) and Gabi (Stephanie Arcila), who have been avoiding each other due to unresolved feelings, are forced to work together in a confined space. Their awkwardness is palpable, and it adds an emotional layer to the already high-stress situation.
A Life-or-Death Rescue in the Elevator Shaft
When the team arrives at the office building, it becomes clear that the building’s systems are not up to code. Vince is immediately frustrated with the lack of safety measures, which means the team has to use their ingenuity to save the people stuck in the elevator.
Instead of a simple rescue, the situation becomes far more complex, as the elevator is stuck between floors and there’s no immediate way to restore power. The team is forced to manually open the elevator doors and help the trapped people climb out one by one.
Still from Fire Country (Credit: CBS)
Meanwhile, Bode (Max Thieriot) is on the verge of completing Phase 2 of his training. If he can handle this crisis without incident, he will officially be assigned to Ladder 42 full-time. However, his troubled history with Jake (Jordan Calloway), who still holds a grudge against Bode for past mistakes, makes things difficult.
Jake is hard on Bode, believing that the young firefighter is a liability, and he warns Bode not to act impulsively. Bode is determined to prove himself, but the pressure of the situation and Jake’s critical eye makes it challenging.
The rescue takes a turn for the worse when the power fails again, causing the elevator to drop further. This time, it’s not just about rescuing trapped people—it’s about saving lives. The episode ramps up the stakes when it’s revealed that one of the trapped individuals, a woman in the elevator, is diabetic and needs emergency insulin. The team now has to work quickly to help her while continuing to rescue the others.
Bode’s Heroic Moment Earns Him a Permanent Spot
In this high-stakes situation, Bode finds himself torn between following Jake’s instructions and acting on instinct. While Jake has made it clear that Bode’s impulsive behavior could cost him his chance at Ladder 42, Bode can’t help but feel the need to step up and do what’s necessary to save lives.
After a tense moment, Bode finally makes a heroic decision that puts his own safety at risk to help Jake, ultimately saving his life. This moment becomes a turning point for Bode, as Jake—though reluctant at first—acknowledges his actions and passes him on the incident.
This moment of heroism is a significant development for Bode’s character. It not only proves that he is capable of handling the pressure and acting responsibly, but it also earns him the respect of his peers, particularly Jake. By the end of the episode, Bode officially secures his spot on Ladder 42, making this episode a pivotal moment in his journey.
Manny and Gabi’s Relationship Struggles Heat Up
While Bode’s moment of heroism earns him a spot on the team, Manny and Gabi’s relationship continues to struggle. The tension between them is apparent throughout the episode, especially when they find themselves working in close quarters. While the heatwave causes external chaos, the emotional turmoil between Manny and Gabi adds an extra layer of conflict.
In the midst of the elevator rescue, Manny, who has been trying to reach out to Gabi, offers heartfelt advice to a bickering couple in the elevator. He urges them not to waste time with the people they love and to make amends before it’s too late.
This advice isn’t just for the couple—it’s also a plea for Gabi to reconsider their relationship and talk to him again. However, Gabi brushes off his words and remains closed off, refusing to engage.
Things take a turn when Manny collapses from heat exhaustion while still trapped in the elevator. Gabi is forced to confront the reality of the situation, and her emotions shift.
She alerts the team, and they work quickly to save everyone, including Manny, who is revived and given the necessary care. However, while Gabi is concerned about Manny’s health, she still isn’t ready to forgive him for their past issues.
Eve’s Family Drama Adds Depth to the Episode
As the heatwave episode continues to unfold, another layer of drama emerges. While the teams are dealing with the crisis at the office building, Eve (Jules Latimer) is dealing with a personal situation of her own.
She learns that Cole (Tye White), an inmate she’s been working with at Three Rock, has gone missing. Initially, Eve fears that Cole has gone AWOL, but it turns out that he passed out from heat exhaustion and is now in need of medical attention.
As Eve and Sharon work to get Cole back to health, Eve begins to reflect on her own family issues. It’s revealed that Eve is estranged from her biological family, a rift that stems from her decision to become a firefighter. Her father had a stroke, and her family blamed her for not being there when it happened.
Although Eve knows there is nothing she could have done, the pain of their accusations still lingers, and she’s unable to bring herself to reach out to them.
This revelation adds emotional depth to Eve’s character and sets up future storylines. Sharon’s blunt advice to Eve—asking her whether she would rather be right or rebuild her relationship with her family—hits Eve hard, and it’s clear that this unresolved family tension will be shown further in future episodes.
A Disastrous Ice Bath and Gabi’s Choices
Back at the fire station, the episode takes another dramatic turn when Bode and Gabi find themselves in a situation that could further complicate their already strained relationship. Both of them seek comfort in the ice bath to cool off after the stressful rescue mission, but their personal issues come to the surface when they end up in close proximity once again. Despite Gabi’s earlier refusal to reconnect with Bode, the heat and tension cause her to reconsider.
They share a passionate moment in the ice bath, but it doesn’t solve anything. Instead, it adds to the confusion and emotional chaos between them. Later, they continue their flirtation in Vince’s Airstream camper, further complicating the situation. It’s clear that neither of them has worked through their issues, and the connection between them, while intense, is ultimately destructive.
Still from Fire Country (Credit: CBS)
While the heatwave has caused chaos in Edgewater, the emotional fallout from this episode will likely continue to reverberate throughout the series. Bode and Gabi’s relationship is far from resolved, and Manny’s feelings for Gabi remain unaddressed.
The personal struggles of the characters in Fire Country add complexity to the high-stakes firefighting drama, ensuring that the show continues to deliver both heart-pounding action and emotional depth.
Conclusion: Fire Country Keeps the Heat On
Fire Country uses the heatwave episode as an opportunity to bring out the raw emotions and interpersonal struggles of its characters. From Bode’s heroic actions to Manny and Gabi’s troubled relationship, the heatwave serves as a catalyst for change, forcing characters to confront their feelings and make decisions that will have lasting consequences. With personal and professional challenges ahead, viewers can expect even more tension and drama in the episodes to come.
